Mold and mildew can come upon anything from clothing to furniture, walls and ceiling of the house. So, what are they?
Mold and mildew are types of fungi and are similar in many ways. The colour of mold is either black or green whereas mildew is white, gray or black. Typically, mold grows on food while mildew grows on damp surface areas of your house like walls in the bathrooms or basements or fabrics. Crops can also get infected by mildew. You may sometimes see a fuzzy growth on foodstuff kept in your fridge. This is mold and it is not safe to consume the food so affected. Mildew, on the other hand is powdery in nature and often referred to as mold in the early stages.
Areas that commonly get affected by mold and mildew
In houses any damp area is susceptible to the growth of mold and mildew. Mildew is found on host plants such as cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables. It also grows on leather, shower curtains, clothing and anything on which there is moisture content. They reproduce by spores, which are airborne. These spores land on moist surfaces and start growing. Normally mold grows in indoor areas and is not found to affect most healthy people.
Mold spores produce mycotoxins that, in large amounts, can be a health hazard to humans, causing many respiratory problems and allergic reactions, which, at times, could be fatal. Mildew infestation can damage crops and plants. However, some molds are beneficial and used in food products like bread and soya sauce, to name a few. Penicillin, known as a miracle drug, is an antibiotic derived from Penicillium, a mold. Penicillium is also used in the production of cheese.
How to prevent mold and mildew in the home
If you detect a musty smell in the room on damp walls, ceiling, any damp areas or carpets and curtains, there could be a mold formation taking place. To prevent mold and mildew in your home, first thing you need to do is to keep all the areas dry and moisture-free. Check for leaky areas in the bathroom, kitchen or other places. Do not store perishable food in your fridge or kitchen counters for long. These are potential mold producers.
The basics of fighting and preventing molds
The simplest way is to keep your house dry. Attend immediately to all water-logged areas in the house, like bathrooms, kitchen and wherever there is a tendency for water-logging. Do not leave it for later as this is an invitation to mold and mildew. If you are painting your house or furniture, ensure that you don’t paint over caulk or moldy surfaces. Best would be to engage the services of a professional. You may be able to buy commercial products that fight and prevent mold and mildew but you can also use common household products for the same purpose.
Mix one cup of bleach for every three and a half litres of warm water. Use a medium-bristled brush, dip it in the bleach solution, and paint the mold or mildew area. Ensure that the surface is kept as dry as possible, as mold and mildew cannot grow without moisture.
You can also use vinegar to good effect. Fill undiluted white or apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the moldy surface with the vinegar. Wash the affected area thoroughly with a brush and then dry it completely. Vinegar is non-toxic and though mildly acidic, does not give off heady fumes like bleach and is said to be about 80% effective at destroying mold and mildew along with the spores.
Another method is to mix one cup borax for every three and a half litres of warm water. Use a medium-bristled brush and paint the borax solution on the affected areas. Wipe off excess borax and water with a clean rag. Borax is very effective in killing mold growth and preventing its re-growth and unlike bleach does not give off fumes. It is toxic if ingested so one needs to be careful.
Ammonia is another product you can use against molds. Use one part clear ammonia with an equal part of water and spray it on the moldy and mildewed surface. Wait for a little while and scrub it clean. Wipe dry the excess solution.
Caution: Never mix ammonia and bleach together. This is dangerous as it creates a toxic chemical named chlorine gas. Breathing in the fumes or accidentally ingesting it is harmful.
Removing mildew from clothing is a tough ask. Most often these clothes have to be discarded. However, you may try soaking the affected clothing in a solution of bleach or stain remover; wash well and sun-dry it. Use de-natured alcohol to remove mold from leather garments: dip a piece of clean cloth in one part water and one part alcohol and rub the affected area vigorously and then allow it to dry fully.
Whenever you undertake the exercise of cleaning mold and mildew, always remember to wear proper protective gear and make sure the working area is well ventilated. Mold contain spores which when you breathe in will reside within your body and lead to respiratory problems and allergies. Protect eyes, nose and hands before you start the exercise.
Stanley Varghese for IndiaProperty.com
Image: By Lavanda Green (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
By: indiaproperty.com
